Treatment Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery

Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery

What is Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery? Definition, Purpose, Preparation, Procedure, and Results

Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery: Definition

Scoliosis, as you may or may not know is the abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, usually in an S or C shape. Usually, a person’s spine runs down in a straight line in the middle, but in the case of scoliosis, it is curved, in usually more than 10 degrees.

Once scoliosis symptoms start to manifest in a person, what they usually think first is what are the treatments available for me to correct this condition?

In the case of scoliosis, surgery is usually not medically necessary in most cases. However, in the case of children younger than 5 years old developing scoliosis at that age, it can be life-threatening. Growth-friendly scoliosis surgery approach is important for these young children, in order for the curve induced by scoliosis to be controlled, all the while maintaining a constant growth of the spine and the thorax.

Essentially, growth-friendly scoliosis surgery means controlling the abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, all while still allowing for growth of the spine.

Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery: Purpose of the Procedure

Surgical processes involving scoliosis will always be largely beneficial to the patient. Although surgery is not needed in most patients suffering the condition, a surgery, especially a minimally invasive and growth-friendly one, can be largely beneficial to the patient as it is a one-time solution for your problems.

Growth-friendly scoliosis surgery has the purpose of correcting a person’s scoliosis problem, especially in young children, all while allowing for the much-needed growth that occurs during their early years.

Growth-friendly scoliosis surgery also serves the purpose of preventing future damage to lung and heart function in kids developing an early onset of scoliosis.

Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery: Preparation before the Procedure

When you have finally decided yourself or for your child to undergo growth-friendly scoliosis surgery, you need to make some preparations before actually undergoing the procedure. Some of these preparatory procedures are listed below:

1. Preparing yourself for the tests before the surgery – Of course, before undergoing growth-friendly scoliosis surgery, you will need to take some tests in order to properly determine where the surgery will be made. Some of the tests included are:

- Imaging Tests- you will be subjected to various imaging tests such as X-rays, Myelograms, CAT or CT scans and MRIs. This is done to properly visualize the disks in your spine in order to perform the surgery properly.

- Renal Sonogram- in severe cases where the kidney might be directly affected by scoliosis, this imaging test is used to check how at risk the kidney might be if a surgery is performed.

- Echocardiogram- much like the renal sonogram, but this time the risk factor of the heart is checked.

2. Preparing yourself by talking to the surgeon- talking to the person who will actually do the procedure on your certainly helps. For one, a surgeon can walk you through the necessary procedures that will be done. The surgeon may also advise you against doing some things right before the surgery such as smoking and lifting heavy things.

- Your attending physician may prescribe you to donate your own blood or any family member/donor’s blood. This is to minimize the need for transfusion of blood taken from the blood bank.

Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery: Procedures

This type of surgery is mostly done in children who are still in the process of growing but have a progressing curvature of the spine that measures less than 35 degrees.

Growth-friendly surgery usually involves placing special vertebral staples or tethers on one side of the curve, usually on the concave side (the side curving inward) to inhibit growth on that side. This is done so that scoliosis will continue to grow and in the process correct the curve through more growth.

Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery: After Procedure and Results

Surgical recovery is necessary right after a surgical process has been done, and this is especially true in the case of growth-friendly scoliosis surgery. Patients who have undergone this surgical process usually need to stay in the hospital for at least 4 to 7 days.

- Pain Medication- strong painkillers are usually prescribed in patients right after having scoliosis surgery, however, patients will sometimes stop needing them after 2 to 4 weeks.

- Limitations- your body will certainly have limitations after undergoing surgery for scoliosis, and your surgeon will tell them to you in detail in order for you to recover properly. Most of the time you will not be allowed to do the heavy lifting and bending for at least the first 6 weeks right after the surgery. However, you will not retain any permanent limitations or restrictions on your body, provided you allow it ample time to recover.

You might be interested to read:

- Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery,
- Cervical Fusion.

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Questions & Answers

What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Age2B

4 answers

What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?

Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat 5-10 times
Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

Age2B

4 answers

How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Age2B

4 answers